Anthony Fiducia is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media the state Department of Agriculture and Markets has announced the presence of the spotted lantern fly in the region. Native to Asia, the spotted latternfly could pose a threat to a number of New York's most vital crops, including apples hops and grapes. Adult lanterflies are approximately one inch long and one half inch wide and have large and visually striking wings. Their forewings are light brown with black spots at the front and a speckled band at the rear. Their hind wings are scarlet with black spots at the front and white and black bars at the rear. Their abdomen is yellow with black bars. Nymphs in the early stages of development appear black with white spots and turn to a red phase before becoming adults. The state Department of Agriculture and Markets is working with the state Department of Environmental Conservation, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to spread the word to crop producers about the invasive species. The department is also increasing inspections, visiting facilities such as warehouses, trucking companies and distribution centers that receive shipments from outside the state. Anyone who finds or sees what might be the lanternfly is asked to report it to the Division of Plant Industry at (800) 554-4501 or plants [at] agriculture [dot] ny [dot] gov, or to a local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.